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Beauty, Hair, Makeup, Skin

Show Your Stash: Misti Michelle’s Makeup Musts, Muses & More

Courtesy of Misti Michelle

Courtesy of Misti Michelle

I know I’m not the only one curious about celebs and influencers’ favorite beauty buys as well as  who and what shape their view of beauty in the biz. 

It’s a bit of a coincidence that it’s National Bestfriend Day, and I happen to be featuring one of my best beauty buds—and there are many more you’ll see soon. Misti of MistiMichelle.com (formerly Entertainista.com) has always had an eye for beauty whether it was rocking wildly colored tresses in high school or becoming a licensed esthetician herself, and like most of us, she got it from her mama! She’s channeled all of her know-how, her carefully curated closet, and appetite for entertainment into a beautiful blog where she regularly shares her favorite finds and media musts. After forming a strong bond, as well as her encouraging me to start my blog, I wanted to spread the love and get her take on all things beauty, including how her aesthetic has shifted, what’s her best beauty advice, and what products make her #BeautyLust list for 2016.

Processed with VSCO with c4 preset

Misti’s ultimate beauty look

On her approach to beauty: “My approach to beauty has changed so much over the last few years. Now that I’m in my mid-30s, my approach is less about the flashy, crazy trends and more about finding something that works for me. These days my beauty style is simple and classic. Most days it’s just a 5-product routine, as I’m just too lazy to do anything more; however, even when I go ‘all out,’ I don’t go for the crazy eyeshadows or lip colors. I tend to keep it all neutral.“

On the beauty idols she grew up with: “I didn’t really grow up with any beauty idols other than my mother; however, I do remember loving Cindy Crawford on MTV’s House of Style.”

via MTV.com

via MTV.com

On her first beauty buy: “My mom sold Mary Kay all through my teens so I never really had to buy makeup. It wasn’t till I came to New York for the first time in 2000 that I was introduced to MAC. I couldn’t afford much but I did score Ruby Woo lipstick and I treasured it.”

On the best beauty advice she’s received: “Blend. Everyone from key MUA’s to my mom drilled blending into my head from the start. To this day, I live in fear of the dreaded foundation line.”

On her favorite tip to share: “When I was trying my hand at modeling, one of the MUA’s on set told me that if I’m ever in a bind lipstick can double as a blush and to use mascara as an eyeliner.”

Her picks for the best beauty buy of 2016 (so far): “I have to say it’s a toss-up between Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream and OUAI’s Hair Oil. Both have become staples in my daily beauty routine.”

Check out Misti’s musts below!

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June 8, 2016 by
Beauty, Hair

Lion Babe’s Jillian Hervery Is Pantene’s New Mane Maven!

via People.com

via People.com

Lion Babe‘s Jillian Hervey is making waves as the newest face of Pantene!

Following in the footsteps of fellow sultry songstress Selena Gomez, Hervey will encourage everyone to embrace their hair texture and share her tips to snagging her signature frizz-free spirals throughout the summer on the brand’s social channels. “It’s really exciting to be a voice for girls with curls,” Hervey told People. “I feel honored to be [working with a] company that I’ve really seen my whole life. My dad has had Pantene in his shower since I was a little kid.”

Like many other curly girls in the game, it took a while for Hervey to love her locks as they are since she didn’t really know how to properly care for them.” It was overwhelming and it kind of freaked me out especially since most people around me had super long, straight hair. I didn’t really know where that fit in,” she said.

But a move to New York for college gave her fresh perspective as she watched people from all walks of life express themselves freely. “Once I really started to embrace my curls, my entire world changed, and it’s made me the woman that I am today,” Hervey said in a June 7 press release. “Keeping my curls strong and healthy is so important, and thanks to Pantene I’ve finally uncovered a routine that allows my curls to be practically frizz-free.”

So what’s in her arsenal, you know, aside from her gilded MAC eyeliner? The Lion Babe lovely (who’s the daughter of Ramon Hervey and Vanessa Williams) makes moisture a priority, including Pantene’s Daily Moisture Renewal 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner, which she admits to leaving on for a little longer than what’s listed on the bottle. Another major must is keeping heat far away from her hair. “If I wash my hair in the morning, then I usually air-dry it,” she said. “In warmer weather, if I walk my dog, by the time I am back in, it is usually nice and dry!” Well, that shouldn’t be a problem this season.

And regardless of the weather changes and trending tresses, she’s in no rush to change her look, which is amazing to see continue to see this shift in the strand sphere. “I’m pretty into my look right now. I’ve come a long way to get this look,” she explained to the glossy. “When I was little my hair was super, super long and once I went to one hair appointment without my mom and the stylist was supposed to give me a trim and she cut off more and I was devastated! I’ve always thought that more than length, I was looking for volume, but I think I’m gonna stay with it as long as I can.”

June 8, 2016 by
Beauty, Hair

#OnMyVanity: My Summer Curl Cocktail

summer-curl-cocktail-top

I receive a slew of samples, and when I find something I like, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Finding the product formula that fulfills all of your hair needs takes time and patience, especially if you’re a curly girl. From the heavy pomades that shellacked my strands to the mousses that left my coif crunchy, I’ve pretty much been there and done that. But over the years, I have learned what works for my 3a/3B hair texture, and the industry at large has made serious strides towards deciphering what works for every type of curl out there. Case in point: Sephora recently launched a hub, complete with video styling tutorials, to educate customers on what types of products they should reach for depending on their curl type. I’m hoping it becomes a permanent part of the site, as so many may still be in the dark about get the most out of their mane.

Not to mention with summer unofficially here, I have to bid goodbye to blowouts, lest I sweat it out in the subway and start to frizz. With so many brands rolling out curl lines, I decided to roll up my sleeves and start sampling which beauty buys will withstand everything the season has to throw at my tresses.

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May 31, 2016 by
Beauty, Body, Hair, Makeup, Skin

Show Your Stash: Kat Graham Shares Her Beauty Secrets

via Kat Graham's Instagram

via Kat Graham’s Instagram

I know I’m not the only one curious about celebs and influencers’ favorite beauty buys as well as  who and what shape their view of beauty in the biz. 

Kat Graham has bewitched audiences since she was six with her moves, music, and magic on the big and small screens. Aside from being a well-rounded entertainer, she’s got serious beauty chops to boot. The Caress and Wet ‘n’ Wild ambassador regularly skips the glam squad in favor of doing it herself and considers fragrance to be the finishing touch to any ensemble. After meeting The Vampire Diaries star and learning more about her girl-powered attitude on beauty, I recently reached out to the multi-hyphenate maven to get her take on all things beauty, including how she channels her inner beauty, who she turns to for inspiration, and what her major must-have of the year is so far.

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May 25, 2016 by
Beauty, Hair, Makeup

GTL: The Boldest Beauty Looks of the 2016 Met Gala

GTL – Get the Look, not Gym, Tan, Laundry, duh!

When this year’s  Met Gala theme, “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology,” was announced, I instantly had visions of cyberpunk pretty — sharp slashes of eyeliner, manicures using bits of motherboards, and cascades of chrome. While most played it safe this year, letting their custom glittering gowns (crafted with the latest technology) do all of the talking, I was psyched to see many stars embracing the theme fully and stepping out of their regular red carpet glamor routine. I got the details on how to recreate the looks straight from the hairstylists and makeup artist to ensure you stand out at the next social gathering on your calendar.

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May 3, 2016 by
Beauty, Hair

Guess What! Dyson Now Does Hair Dryers

via Dyson.com

via Dyson.com

Vacuums are usually the first thing that comes to mind when you mention Dyson, but the brand is making a lot of noise by branching into beauty with its first hair dryer!

Known as the Supersonic, the aesthetically pleasing dryer features a hollow head (similar to its range of fan heaters) with a high-speed 13-blade motor that’s small enough to be housed in the handle for a lighter feel while you style. While it delivers three airflow settings, four heat settings, and a cool blast, acoustic engineers managed to cut the noise down to a frequency that’s about almost inaudible to humans. Not to mention, it also has a magnetic heatproof nozzle and an intelligent heat sensor to ensure you don’t scorch your strands.

The dryer was the result of over four years of research and a $72 million dollar investment in a separate lab to understand the science behind our tresses and to discover if there was a way to improve the hair dryer that we’ve known up until now. The company found the problem much more complex to solve and “counterintuitive” to their previous work. “Trust me when I say there are many more approaches and angles to blow-drying than vacuuming in the world,” Ed Shelton, a design manager for the Supersonic, told The New York Times. “British women want volume. Japanese women want straightness. No one wants hair damage. And then we had to create a fleet of robots specifically to test that over and over again.” So given all the research and care that went into it, it’s no surprise that the dryer will retail for $399 when it becomes available for purchase.

The dryer has already received a seal of approval from celebrity stylist Jen Atkin, who offered her insight on the dryer’s development and will partner with the brand for its launch in August with a series of tutorials showing mane mavens how to really work with it to scores the styles they love.

Sadly this mane must is only available in Japan now, but according to Racked, it will hit Sephora shelves in September. So mark your calendar and start saving your pennies now, kittens!

April 27, 2016 by
Beauty, Hair

Spring Hairstyle Tips Straight from the Salon Chair

spring-hair-dvf

After a warm winter and a chilly start to spring, now’s finally the time to let your hair down and try something new. But test-driving some of the top hair trends for the season can easily end in disaster, so I turned to celeb stylists Gabriel Samra and Kim Kimble (prior to the Lemonade premiere this weekend where she worked her magic throughout) for their top tips to ensure your hair looks and feels healthy—no matter what hairstyle you select.

Keep Hair Hydrated — This applies regardless of the time of year. While April showers bring on plenty of frizz, it’s likely because your strands are thirsty, causing them to try and absorb the added moisture in the air. Kimble notes that repairing the damage after a season of heat styling is key to keeping frizz at bay. To keep hair soft and moisturized during warmer months, use Pantene’s Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner, which also keeps hair healthy because it prevents damage before it begins,” she recommended. “The new conditioner formula contains new technology that helps repair and prevent damage at the root for longer, stronger, healthier hair.”

Work with Your Natural Texture — Effortless hair has been a trend for a few seasons, so you can save your pennies from your regularly scheduled blowout and still look stylish. “Over the past two years, we saw extremes. We saw very sleek and then very messy, and now this is a fusion of the two,” Samra explained. He advised using 1 to 2 day-old hair, as “it has some of its natural oils to help with providing the desired textured look,” and can hold a curl or bend in the hair better if you’re looking to enhance your natural texture with heat.

Don’t Fret Over Frizz — I know it sounds counterintuitive, but most stylists nowadays are letting the frizz fly for more natural, effortless appeal. Both stylists recommended using a light hairspray like Pantene’s Smooth Anti-Humidity Airspray to set the style without feeling stiff or sticky. Kimble added, “Use this product to refresh your style throughout the day without worrying about product buildup or residue for a soft, touchable look.”

April 26, 2016 by
Beauty, Hair

Dove Wants You to #LoveYourHair

dove-hair

Whether your hair’s long, short, curly, straight, blonde, brunette, candy-colored, or shaven off completely, we’re all faced with the balancing our individuality with the narrow societal standards of beauty. In fact, a study recently found 86% of US women believe that media and society put a lot of pressure on women to have hair that looks a certain way—namely long, silky straight brunette locks, just ask Google.

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April 21, 2016 by
Beauty, Hair, Makeup

Fresh Faces: Gina Rodriguez for John Frieda & Cara Delevingne for Rimmel

gina-cara-beauty-deals

It looks like Gina Rodriguez and Cara Delevingne will be getting more screen time this year, as both stars have landed big beauty contracts. Rodriguez’s shiny strands will become the brand ambassador for John Frieda while Delevigne will add her signature style to Rimmel.

People let the Jane the Virgin star’s good news slip out yesterday during an interview, noting that she’ll be fronting the brand’s range of Frizz Ease products. It felt like a perfect fit for the Golden Globe-winning actress, who said she regularly uses the product to score Jane’s perfect waves. “I have naturally curly hair — I definitely have a frizz situation, and being on television and constantly having to go through the process of straightening and blow drying my hair hasn’t made it better. So to use a product to make it get better is what’s necessary,” she explained to the glossy.

“My hair, body, the way I look, my skin — it’s about self-care, it’s about being good to yourself and it’s about accepting what you have and doing what you can to exemplify that,” she shared with the publication.

While there’s no word yet on when her campaign will drop, I’d personally love to see Rodriguez show off a slew of chic hairstyles. It would not only highlight her hair’s versatility but also how the product holds up against everything from blowouts to braids, which Rodriguez admitted wouldn’t be a problem. “[G]rowing up I had my best friend and next door neighbor Yolanda’s mom as a hairstylist,” she said. “She would pull my hair like I was basically getting facelifts at the age of 5 because she was pulling me back so bad. My threshold for head pain and the pulling of my hair is really high. On set, we’ll do wigs and 1920s looks and constantly have different hair, and some of the girls are in the trailer like ‘Ow, ow, ow’ and I’m like, chillin’.”

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April 13, 2016 by